Enantioselective organocatalytic α-sulfenylation of substituted diketopiperazines

The asymmetric organocatalytic α-sulfenylation of substituted piperazine-2,5-diones is reported, with cinchona alkaloids as chiral Lewis bases and electrophilic sulfur transfer reagents. Catalyst loadings, the type of sulfur transfer reagent, temperature, and solvent were investigated in order to optimize the reaction conditions. The effects of ring substitution and the type of catalyst on the yield and enantioselectivity of the reaction are reported.     

Convergent synthesis of geometrically disassembling dendrimers using Cu(I)-catalyzed C-O bond formation

The convergent synthesis of geometrically degradable dendrimers based on the 2,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)phenol subunit is presented. The key step of the synthetic scheme involves the CuI/3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline-catalyzed coupling of aryl iodides and alcohols. The synthesis and disassembly of these compounds is discussed.     

Phosphonic acid functionalized asymmetric phthalocyanines: synthesis, modification of indium tin oxide, and charge transfer

Metalated and free-base A(3)B-type asymmetric phthalocyanines (Pcs) bearing, in the asymmetric quadrant, a flexible alkyl linker of varying chain lengths terminating in a phosphonic acid (PA) group have been synthesized. Two parallel series of asymmetric Pc derivatives bearing aryloxy and arylthio substituents are reported, and their synthesis and characterization through NMR, combustion analysis, and MALDI-MS are described. We also demonstrate the modification of indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates using the PA functionalized asymmetric Pc derivatives and monitoring their electrochemistry. The PA functionalized asymmetric Pcs were anchored to the ITO surface through chemisorption and their electrochemical properties characterized using cyclic voltammetry to investigate the effects of PA structure on the thermodynamics and kinetics of charge transfer. Ionization energies of the modified ITO surfaces were measured using ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy.     

Polymorphism and phase transition behavior of 6,6′‐bis(chloromethyl)‐1,1′,4,4′‐tetramethyl‐3,3′‐(p‐phenylenedimethylene)bis(piperazine‐2,5‐dione)

A crystallographic investigation of the title compound, C₂₂H₂₈Cl₂N₄O₄, using crystals obtained under different crystallization conditions, revealed the presence of two distinct polymorphic forms. The molecular conformation in the two polymorphs is very different: one adopts a `C' shape, whereas the other adopts an `S' shape. In the latter, the molecule lies across a crystallographic twofold axis. The `S'‐shaped polymorph undergoes a reversible orthorhombic‐to‐monoclinic phase transition on cooling, whereas the structure of the `C'‐shaped polymorph is temperature insensitive.